Visit to the People's Republic of China

- Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission (NDC), paid an unofficial visit to the People's Republic of China (PRC) from May 20 to 26 at the invitation of Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and president of the PRC.

He was accompanied by Kim Ki Nam and Choe Thae Bok, members of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the C.C., the WPK; Kang Sok Ju, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the WPK and vice-premier of the Cabinet; Jang Song Thaek, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the WPK and vice-chairman of the NDC; Kim Yong Il, Pak To Chun and Thae Jong Su, alternate members of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the C.C., the WPK; Mun Kyong Tok, alternate member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the C.C., the WPK and chief secretary of the Pyongyang City Committee of the WPK; Ju Kyu Chang, alternate member of the Political Bureau and department director of the C.C., the WPK; Kim Kye Gwan, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs; and Ji Jae Ryong, DPRK ambassador e. p. to China.

Chinese party and state leaders warmly welcomed Kim Jong Il who visited China again for strengthening and developing the DPRK-China friendship sealed in blood and accorded him cordial hospitality with utmost sincerity.

Kim Jong Il separately met and had talks with Hu Jintao, and Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang, who are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the CPC.

Upon his arrival at Beijing Kim Jong Il was greeted by Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the CPC and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Liu Qi, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., and secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC; and leading officials of national organizations and Beijing Municipality.

He received a bunch of fragrant flowers from a child.

He had a conversation with Jia Qinglin.

Jia Qinglin warmly welcomed Kim Jong Il's visit to China on behalf of the CPC, the government of the PRC and the Chinese people upon the authorization of General Secretary Hu Jintao.

He noted that Hu Jintao and leading officials of the collective leadership were looking forward to the meeting with Kim Jong Il, attaching utmost importance to his China visit.

Kim Jong Il cordially met with Hu Jintao in Beijing on May 25 and held talks with him.

Present at the talks from the Chinese side were Xi Jinping, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the CPC and vice-president of the PRC; Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the CPC and director of the General Office of the C.C., the CPC; Dai Bingguo, state councilor; Wang Jiarui, head of the International Liaison Department of the C.C., the CPC; Yang Jiechi, minister of Foreign Affairs; Zhang Ping, head of the National Development and Reform Committee; Chen Deming, minister of Commerce; Liu Jieyi, deputy head of the International Liaison Department of the C.C., the CPC; and Liu Hongcai, Chinese ambassador e. p. to the DPRK.

Present there were Kang Sok Ju, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the WPK and vice-premier of the DPRK Cabinet; Kim Yong Il, alternate member and secretary of the C.C., the WPK; and Kim Kye Gwan, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.

Kim Jong Il's visit to China is of particularly weighty importance in developing the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries on a higher stage, Hu Jintao noted, warmly welcoming his visit to China on behalf of the Chinese party, government and people.

He extended kind greetings to all the Korean people in their dynamic drive to open the gate to a thriving nation in 2012, the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung, in hearty response to the spirit of the historic conference of the WPK.

Noting that the China visit paid by Kim Jong Il nine months after his two visits to China last year clearly proves what great importance he is attaching to the traditional Sino-DPRK friendship provided by the leaders of the elder generation of the two countries, Hu Jintao highly appreciated the devoted service rendered by Kim Jong Il for the steady development of the bilateral friendship. Hu Jintao stressed that Kim Jong Il's appraisal of the changes taking place in China, making a long trip to the Northeastern and Huadong regions of China, was boundless encouragement and full support to the struggle of the Chinese people.

Kim Jong Il said that he was pleased to meet Hu Jintao again and expressed deep thanks to him for having sent senior officials in the capital as far as the railway station on the border to warmly receive and accord him cordial hospitality during his visit. He extended warm congratulations to all the members of the CPC and people of China on the 90th anniversary of the party.

Kim Jong Il gave his impressions of the visit to the Northeastern and Huadong regions of China making steady progress full of dynamism.

Kim Jong Il said that during his visit he could witness for himself the dynamic progress in the rapidly changing land of China through the achievements made in the economic and cultural fields and in the domain of the cutting-edge science and technology in its vast land.

The top leaders of the two parties and countries informed each other of the situation in their countries and had an open-hearted exchange of views on boosting the relations between the two parties and countries and reached a full consensus of views in a comradely, sincere and friendly atmosphere.

They shared the view that it is the common sacred responsibility which no others can perform instead and steadfast stand to carry forward and develop down through generations the DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations which have covered the 60 odd year-long proud and historic path and have been put on a new higher stage.

They recognized that according to the agreement the leaders of the two parties and countries reached after their meeting in Changchun last year the governments and peoples of the two countries have striven to put the issues into practice in various fields.

It is favorable for more dynamically pushing forward socialist construction in the two countries, better protecting and promoting the common interests of the two sides and regional peace, stability and prosperity to boost the bilateral relations in various fields including high-level visits, brisk exchange of human culture and expansion of experience swap and mutually beneficial cooperation, they said, and discussed a series of measures to this end and reached an agreement.

It is the requirement of a new period and new situation to strengthen the unity between the two parties and countries and advance the bilateral friendly and cooperative relations with the era, Hu Jintao said, noting that the CPC and the PRC government will creditably discharge the historic responsibility for steadfastly carrying forward the baton of the traditional Sino-DPRK friendship associated with the noble soul of the revolutionaries of the elder generation of the two countries.

The Chinese side is set to inject fresh life and viability into the Sino-DPRK friendship and promote and put spurs to the development of the Sino-DPRK good neighborly relations of friendship and cooperation and boost them in wider dimension by pooling efforts with the DPRK side and thus bring greater wellbeing to the two countries and peoples and make a greater contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in Northeast Asia and, furthermore, in the rest of the world, Hu Jintao noted.

The DPRK-China friendship with a long history and tradition with the two countries linked by the same mountain and rivers is unbreakable as it stood all storms and tests and it will remain evergreen no matter how much water may flow under the bridge and how frequently one generation is replaced by another, Kim Jong Il said, re-clarifying the invariable will and determination of the WPK and the DPRK government to boost the friendly and cooperative relations in conformity with the noble intention of the leaders of the elder generation of the two countries and the desire of the two peoples.

Kim Jong Il expressed thanks to the party and government of China for having consistently set store by the DPRK-China friendship in the light of the strategic importance and from a prospective angle and having positively supported the Korean people in their struggle to defend socialism and achieve the prosperity of the country.

He reiterated the will to exert every possible effort for further consolidating the bonds of fraternal friendship enshrined in the minds of the two peoples and dynamically boosting the bilateral friendship, the common treasure of the two countries, in various fields.

Appreciating the new successes being made by the Chinese people in the efforts to accomplish the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, he said that the Korean people are rejoiced as over their own success over the fact that everything is going well in China, their neighbor.

At the talks the two sides highly estimated the fact that the good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation between the two countries grew stronger after a series of historic meetings held between the top leaders of the DPRK and China in recent years and expressed mutual support and solidarity with the two parties and peoples in the struggle for socialist construction and national reunification.

Hu Jintao highly appreciated the positive measures taken by the DPRK to defend stability and peace, develop economy and improve the standard of people's living, wishing the Korean people greater success in socialist construction under the wise leadership of the WPK led by Kim Jong Il.

He supported the Party, government and people of the DPRK firmly preserving socialism and exploring the road of development suited to its reality, expressing belief that the whole Party, the country and the people would achieve shining successes through a dynamic struggle, single-mindedly united around Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Il expressed expectation that the Chinese people would win steady new victories in the historical course of furthering the building of the party's ability to govern, realizing scientific outlook on development and building a harmonious society under the guidance of the CPC with Hu Jintao as its general secretary, wishing them signal achievements this year, the first year of the 12th five-year plan.

Both sides had a sincere and in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, the situation in Northeast Asia, in particular.

Recognizing that the adherence to the goal of denuclearization on the whole Korean Peninsula, peaceful settlement of the issue through dialogue including the resumption of the six-party talks and the elimination of obstructive elements conform to the overall interests of Northeast Asia, the two sides shared views on making good understanding and coordination.

Hu Jintao hosted a banquet in welcome of Kim Jong Il's China visit at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday evening.

Present there on invitation were Kim Ki Nam, Choe Thae Bok, Kang Sok Ju, Jang Song Thaek, Kim Yong Il, Pak To Chun, Thae Jong Su, Mun Kyong Dok, Ju Kyu Chang, Kim Kye Gwan, Ji Jae Ryong and embassy officials.

Present there were senior Chinese party and state cadres including Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, He Guoqiang, Zhou Yongkang, Liu Qi, Guo Boxiong, Ling Jihua, Wang Huning, Dai Bingguo, Wang Jiarui, Yang Jiechi, Zhang Ping and Chen Deming and Liu Hongcai.

Speeches were made by Hu Jintao and Kim Jong Il at the banquet.

The banquet proceeded in amicable atmosphere full of comradely and friendly feelings.

An art performance specially prepared by Chinese artistes was given to welcome Kim Jong Il's visit to China.

The colorful performance given by famous national art groups and domestic and international concours winners included numbers such as Chinese songs "My Motherland", serial songs of "A Dream of Red Mansions", world famous music and Korean songs "Nostalgia" and "Blooming Worksite".

Kim Jong Il conveyed a floral basket in congratulation of the successful performance.

He exchanged warm farewell with the leading officials of the collective leadership of China including Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping.

Hoping to meet Kim Jong Il again, Hu Jintao wished him greater success in his important work for realizing the cause of building a rich and powerful nation.

Kim Jong Il met with Premier of the State Council Wen Jiabao and had a cordial conversation with him at the state guest house on May 25.

Wen said he was very much pleased to see again Kim Jong Il in good health, adding that the current tour made by Kim Jong Il was the same as the one done by President Kim Il Sung 20 years ago.

Kim Jong Il said that this visit was the seventh one in the new century, noting that the Chinese party, government and people showed him cordial hospitality every time he came.

He conveyed militant greetings of the C.C., the WPK and the NDC of the DPRK to the Chinese party, government and people.

On May 26 he visited the Shenzhou Digital Company on the outskirts of Beijing, accompanied by Li Keqiang.

After going round the company, he highly appreciated a lot of successes of the scientists and researchers in researches into cutting-edge science.

He said that both the DPRK and China need to learn from each other and exchange experience in many aspects and heartily wished the Chinese people fresh and greater achievements in the great work for building a comprehensively well-off society in the spirit of the 17th Congress of the CPC.

Li Keqiang gave a luncheon for Kim Jong Il.

Jia Qinglin, Liu Qi and other senior officials of China were present at Beijing Railway Station to see off Kim Jong Il returning home.

He successfully concluded his unofficial visit to the PRC and started on his way home in safety, receiving warm farewell from senior party and government officials of China including Dai Bingguo and Wang Jiarui who accompanied and guided him with sincerity in the whole period of the visit.

His current visit to China for steady development of the DPRK-China friendship was successfully conducted under the special care and cordial hospitality of Hu Jintao and the party and government of China.

Kim Jong Il was satisfied at the results of the visit and expressed his heartfelt thanks for the cordial hospitality accorded to him by Chinese senior party and